What did I say about finding birds blown in by yesterday’s winds?
Temp in the low 50s, mostly cloudy, Wind N 5-15 mph
I got my luggage to the airport before 9 AM, then went out birding. I had to be back at the airport around 12:30, so no time to waste.
Nothing new at the High School or Warbler Willows.
I pulled up to the Adak National Forest, opened my window and started pishing (hoping the Yellow Warbler was still there).
Instead, out popped a Ruby-crowned Kinglet! A first for Adak! And me…
I guess I will be going home in a good mood today!
A few minutes later, the Yellow Warbler also popped out.
I then headed up to Clam Lagoon. I didn’t have time to walk the marsh edge, but a quick walk out the peninsula would be okay. I hadn’t seen a single shorebird on the peninsula this trip (very unusual), but I am a glutton for punishment…
About halfway out, a small plover (Semipalmated size) flew in.
I immediately got my hopes up. First, I have never seen a Semipalmated Plover later than Sept 13. Next, this bird had a REALLY broad breastband. Could it be a Common Ringed Plover?
YES!
Note: No eye-ring (Semipalmated Plovers have eye-rings in all plumages). The black on the lores goes all the way down to the base of the gape (On semis it does not go down that far). There is webbing only between the two outer toes (Semis have webbing between all of the toes).
A Lifer!. The second record for Adak.
I am going home a VERY happy camper!
The Trip List ended at 67 and the Annual List at 88.
You can see today’s eBird list at https://ebird.org/checklist/S151256945
And the eBird Trip List at https://ebird.org/tripreport/160488
What a great trip!
Every trip out here is different.
There was a great lack of shorebirds (but the plover made up for that!).
The Baikal Teal and Garganeys were exceptional.
And dickey-birds were good.
I added one-and-a-half lifers (Common Ringed Plover and Baikal Teal)
I added 5 (YES 5!) birds to my Adak list (Baikal Teal, Common Ringed Plover, Merlin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Yellow Warbler). I am now at 166!!
I added one new species to the Adak List (Ruby-crowned Kinglet)
I leave you with a parting view of Clam Lagoon. I can almost see the plover waving goodbye to me…
Back in May 24…